Vertigo is the sensation of spinning. The patient feels like the room is spinning around him or that he is turning round and round. Vertigo treatment involves figuring out the cause of the issue.
How is vertigo different from presyncope and disequilibrium?
We need to differentiate vertigo from presyncope and disequilibrium.
Presyncope is light-headedness or feeling of near fainting. It may be associated with turning pale, sweating, blurring of vision or blackout. It occurs due to decreased blood supply to the brain.
It is mainly caused by cardiac diseases or vasovagal attack.
Disequilibrium is the feeling of imbalance experienced while standing or walking.
What causes vertigo?
The most common cause of vertigo is problems of the inner ear.
Very rarely vertigo maybe caused by decreased blood supply to certain parts of the brain, certain drugs, anxiety, depression, low blood sugar
What are the associated symptoms of vertigo?
When vertigo is caused by inner ear problems, it may be associated with sensation of vomiting, decreased hearing, ringing sensation in the ear.
It may also be related to sudden head movements or change in body position.
Vertigo Treatment
Treatment of vertigo begins with finding out the exact cause of vertigo.
Not all types of vertigo require medications. Simple body and head repositioning manoeuvres can cure vertigo.
For acute severe vertigo there are injections and oral medications that put the ear to sleep temporarily while the correct diagnosis is made and specific treatment is given.
All in all, a thorough investigation of the cause of the vertigo needs to be made by an ENT surgeon. This is done by detailed history, examination and certain positioning tests. Once, the correct diagnosis is made most causes of vertigo can be treated with simple repositioning manoeuvres and vestibular exercises.
